Veterans Are Welcome to Horse Around

by Chuck  N. Baker

Horses4Heroes is a wonderful resource for veterans and their families.  

Director Sydney Knott said, “I like to call it a YMCA with horses. It is that place where you can go with your family and learn how to ride a horse, have fun with horses, relax and have a great time.” Knott’s ranch is open to the public, but it works most diligently to help veterans and active duty military and their families by offering discount rates and, in many cases, free services. “We also serve law enforcement officers, firefighters, schoolteachers and nurses,” she said. “You know it’s expensive to ride a horse and it’s expensive to have kids take horseback riding lessons.” She explained children who want to learn to ride are like others who want to play soccer, football, baseball or other sports. “There are kids who want to ride and compete. So, we cater to children who have parents who put on a uniform each day.”

Knott charges a discounted rate for riding lessons and offers veterans and military free memberships to her program. A program called Open Barn allows children to help with the horses and barnyard animals such as chickens, rabbits, goats and pigs. Open Barn is offered Tuesday through Sunday between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM.

Knott explained, “They can hang out with the animals, play in the play area, enjoy the picnic area. If they want to ride, it’s only $10 a ride and $5 for a re-ride. Once a month, we have Family Farm Friday and rides for members are only $5. We also set aside about a third of our time for the accessible part of our mission, which is free workshops for veterans with Post Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury, victims of domestic abuse and violence. That’s our passion, which is to support those who are at risk and put a little horse power in their lives. We pay the bills (for the workshops) through ridings and lessons, birthday parties, and other activities that we do for our local heroes.”

There is a monthly Open House where veterans, spouses, family members and active duty service members can meet the entire Horses4Heroes team. RSVP via email to: vegasprgroup@gmail.com. The center is located at 4975 North Miller Lane, Las Vegas.

Volunteers and donations are always needed. “It costs us $15,000 a month to keep the doors open,” she said. Volunteers or those who wish to donate can go to:  horses4heroes.org.